UN General Assembly Special Session
(Copenhagen+5): World Summit for Social Development
and Beyond: Achieving Social Development for All in a Globalized WorldGeneva,
26-30 June 2000

Highlights
from Saturday 1 July

The ENB Summary and Analysis
of WSSD +5 is now available in HTML
and PDF

Consensus
reached and Special Session draws to a close. On Saturday, 1 July,
the Committee of the Whole adjourned at 1:45 pmafter delegates reached
consensus on the Further Initiatives document following informal
negotiations on the issue of foreign occupation; the Closing Plenary
adjourned at 4:45 pm On
Saturday 1 July, the Committee of the Whole met in the morning
to adopt the Further Initiatives document and the Political Declaration.
After some debate on paragraph 69 on foreign occupation, and informal
negotiations, delegates agreed to delete the paragraph and to strengthen
paragraph 18.
The Closing Plenary met at 3:00pm and delegates heard closing remarks
and statements regarding the document.

Nitin
Desai, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs (Above
left)), identified a number of important areas in which
progress was made, including a clearer connection between globalization
and its social impact; HIV/AIDS, and an important advance in the
linking of development and health. He also called attention to the
new paragraphs on taxation, particularly paragraph 111. John
Langmore, Director, Division for Social Policy (above right)
reiterated that there were over 30 new initiatives in the Outcome
document, including paragraphs related to taxes and AIDS.

In
his closing remarks, President Theo-Ben Gurirab reaffirmed the
list of renewed commitments, including those regarding full employment;
debt cancellation, women's empowerment and gender equality; and
multilateral trade based on social justice and equity. He underscored
the UNGASS addressed in particular the AIDS epidemic and said
that apart from nuclear weapons of mass destruction, AIDS represented
the greatest danger to the survival of humanity. He underscored
the important role of NGOs and said they must be listened to.

Vice-Chair
and Rapporteur Bagher Asadi presented the report of the Committee
of the Whole to the General Assembly during the Closing Plenary

Canada
and Norway expressed satisfaction on 111 (e) bis on new
and innovative sources of funding for dedication to social development
and poverty eradication programmes, and welcomed the opportunity
to take a closer look at mechanisms, including a Currency Transaction
Tax.

Nigeria,
speaking for the G-77/China, in the Closing Plenary

In Closing
Remarks, Bangladesh lamented that there was not more explicit
reference in the document for the need to assess the gender impact
of globalization. He said UNIFEM should take a take the first step
in monitoring such impacts.

The
EU lamented the lack o f explicit reference to good governance in
the Political Declaration, He highlighted 6 new points of progress
in the initiatives, including those related to the ILO, enterprises
and social responsibility, good practices in social development,
and access to health care and better access to essential drugs at
affordable prices. He also highlighted 4 regrets, stating the EU
document did not go far enough on cooperation between major organizations,
or on social indicators, and social protection. He would have preferred
explicit reference to the Global Compact

Delegates
discussed paragraph 69 on foreign occupation. Many supported retaining
the paragraph, including Syria, Palestine, Indonesia, China, Sudan,
and Egypt. Canada, the US and the France, now speaking on behalf of
the EU, opposed this paragraph. Jamaica proposed that delegates compromise
by strengthening paragraph 18, on self determination. Delegates met
informally and reached agreement to strengthen paragraph 18 with reference
to removing obstacles that are incompatible with the dignity and worth
of the human person and that must be combated and eliminated. The
group agreed to to delete paragraph 69.

Nitin
Desai, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs,
with Chair Maquieira and Pakistan (left); Sudan with Chairs Asadi
and Maquieira

Gloria
Kan and John Langmore, Division for Social Policy, and Nitin Desai

Syria
(right) and other delegations called for retention of paragraph
69 on foreign occupation. The EU, Canada and the US opposed. Jamaica
(left) suggested that delegates compromise and strengthen paragraph
18 instead.

The
informal negotiations on foreign occupation were led by Vice-Chair
Kheireddine Ramoul, Algeria

Congratulations
after the ending of the Committee of the Whole

Final Session of Working Group
III on the Political Declaration which adjourned at 1:45 Saturday
morning

Chair
Bagher Asadi reported back to the Working Group after agreement was
reached on the text in informal negotiations.

The
US consulting with Japan (left) and the Holy See discussion the
Declaration with Sudan

The
Geneva 2000 Forum, held in conjunction with the Special Session,
will be a platform for sharing experiences through panels, discussions,
exhibitions, video, etc., with new and innovative approaches in
social and economic development policies and activities, and provide
a fertile ground for new ideas. The Forum is organized and hosted
by the Government of Switzerland. No less than 150 side events are
being planned as part of the Geneva 2000 Forum.